Author Note: I hope you all enjoy my fanfic! Please do not copy without my permission and please do not flame unless it is neccesary.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem or Nintendo, but I wish I did.

Chapter 1: The Challenge

The drone of chirping crickets spread throughout the campsite of Lord Eliwood of Pherae's campaign in the dark, thick forests outside of Caelin. In the center of a wall of tents, miscellaneous boxes of supplies, and horses used by knights in battle was the glowing campfire that radiantly lit up the ground around it. By the grand bonfire sat Lord Hector of Ostia, a man of many words, but few thoughts.

Many referred to him as reckless, stubborn and unlogical, never to his face but behind his back. That didn't mean that those secret remarks about his behavior were not true. In fact, they were very true. Rather than negotiate problems with enemies, he would be the one more likely to pound them down to dust with his mighty axe. And it was easy to set off his fiery temper.

Very easy.

His exact opposite was his most loyal of confidants, Lord Eliwood.

Gentle of heart and mind, he would always be able to tame the Ostian lord's temperament, which was quick to erupt. His upbringing was superb and his goals were totally righteous, including the search for his missing father, the beloved Marquess of Pherae. With the charisma of a prince, which he practically was, and a soul untouched by greed, he guided his great army with the most amazing of skill.

In conclusion, every good trait that Lord Eliwood had was almost every good trait that Lord Hector lacked.

With axe in hand, the young Ostian lord sat in an intense thought, which was quite an uncommon sight.

"Hector?!...What are you doing?" Eliwood chimed from behind at the peculiar event, which was able startle Hector.

"Ah! Eliwood! What are you doing, sneaking up on me like that?" Hector asked, nearly to rage and standing beside the fire.

"Well, I just noticed you...Just...Sitting...There..." Eliwood began slowly, pondering Hector's behavior, "...Which is so very...Unusual."

"Can't a guy just sit for one minute without being disturbed?" Hector frowned, realizing what Eliwood meant after a moment, making Eliwood smile sheepishly.

"Sorry. But, it is kind of...Mind-boggling to think that in your spare time you are...Sitting by a fire instead of sneaking food from Merlinus' storage or starting an argument with Sir Oswin...Or Matthew." Eliwood explained, still smiling innocently.

Hector turned away and watched the fire crack, brilliantly swaying about in a frenzied dance, "That's exactly it." He looked to Eliwood again, with his frowning face, "Everyone thinks I'm some brash imbecile!"

Eliwood kept a straight face as he nearly began to laugh. Hector had essentially told the exact definition of what he was.

"Well..." Eliwood began, lost for words as he began to chuckle under his breath.

"What is so funny?!" Hector shouted with anger. It was obvious that Eliwood agreed somewhat with what people thought of Hector, for it was basically the truth.

After a moment, Eliwood's laughter grew louder and more apparent. Hector pursed his lips with frustration, "Some friend you are."

"Sorry to break it to you, Hector, but," Lady Lyn of Caelin added as she approached the two from the side, "You are brash and you are very close to being an imbecile."

Lady Lyndis of Caelin was a brave, affable woman. As the granddaughter of the Marquess of Caelin, she was next in line to the throne. Over the year or so she had gained many allies, but enjoyed teasing Hector more than anybody or anything else.

"I can't believe this," Hector began, fuming and trying to contain his fury, "You guys are supposed to be helping me with my issue, not confirming it!"

Eliwood, finally able to restrain his laughter somewhat, spoke up, "Calm yourself, Hector. We shall try to assist you."

"Eliwood, does that mean we would have to change his entire personality?" Lyn questioned to Eliwood with a sly smile. Not only was Lyn quick with words, she had a silver tongue, a tongue that sometimes grew sharp.

"My entire personality? Now what do you mean by that?" Hector argued, "Are you saying you think that I am totally a brash imbecile?!"

"I never said that. I only said that you were close to being an imbecile and are already very brash." Lyn said without recoiling.

Hector flinched, getting tired of all the insults, "You aren't any help at all! Why don't you go off and flirt with your knights or something?"

Lyn glared fiercely at Hector, "Hector, you know what? You are an imbecile! And a very, very brash one at that!"

The two leered at each other as though they were arguing in their thoughts. Eliwood finally intervened, "Why don't I take care of this, Lyndis?" He looked to her with a helpless, weak smile, "I think we would all be better off if I did as such."

Hector and Lyn crossed their arms at the same time. Eventually Lyn began to speak, "Hmm...Hector. I challenge you...To a bet."

Hector looked interested at the idea, "...Yeah?" But his curiosity swiftly changed to hostility towards his feminine rival, "What?"

"I will never tease you ever again if..." She began dramatically, making Hector impatient.

Hector's impatience got the best of him as he hollered out scornfully, "Yes?! Out with it, Lyn!"

"If you can get a girl to fall 'head-over-heels' with you by the end of our quest, whenever that may be." She finished, smiling cleverly at her idea. She was sure if he attempted this, she would certainly get some good laughs and even more reasons to taunt him.

He immediately replied, "And if I'm not able to do it?"

"Wait, I don't think this is really-" Eliwood began, trying to keep the peace.

"Quiet, Eliwood!" Hector interrupted, again losing his patience with the cunning swordswoman.

"Then you'll have to kiss Florina's pegasi, Huey, on the lips...In front of the entire army..." Lyn replied with a hauntingly evil grin, "During a battle."

Appalled at Lyn for even thinking of such a thing, Eliwood gasped, "Lyndis!"

"I'll do it!" Hector stated immediately after Eliwood's reaction, completely convinced that he could succeed in the challenge.

Lyn's cunning smile grew as Eliwood's mouth gaped in bafflement, "Hector!"

"I'm going to show you Lyndis of Caelin, that it is not I who need women, but it is the women who need me!" He vowed, as though what he was saying was honorable.

Lyn held a hand out to confirm the deal, which Hector grasped with very little fragility. They shook hands, both with such determination that it made Eliwood tremble with uneasiness.

"Oh dear..." Eliwood muttered in complete disbelief, "We have had far to little to do around the camp lately..."

"The challenge will start tomorrow." Lyn stated, as she began to plan event that would make the whole competition a big mess for Hector in her thoughts.

"Fine! Prepare to lose, Lyn!" Hector remarked with a strong feeling of confidence.

Lyn walked away, quite pleased with herself. Eliwood watched her closely as she departed, almost as though he were charmed by her.

Hector turned away, crossing his arms, "That woman!" He turned around quickly to Eliwood, "I will make her eat her own words! And you will help me!..." He then realized that Eliwood hadn't listened to a single word of what he'd said.

It then became evident to Hector that Eliwood did not gaze at her with disgust or with interest, but rather with admiration.

"Oh...You've got to be kidding me..." Hector sighed, slapping his hand to his face with distress.

"Hector, I believe you should just end this now, before it's too late." Eliwood commented, not just out of his slight reverence for Lyn, but for Hector's sake. Hector didn't stand a chance, especially since Hector didn't have a single witty or charming bone in his body.

"Fine! That's just fine! I'll get someone else to help me!" Hector exclaimed with loathing for his so-called friend and for Lyn.

"Hector, please wait." Eliwood began with very little hesitation, hoping to not get into an argument which would lead to a bet.

"I don't care if she said we start tomorrow! I say that the only reason we are not starting tonight is because she isn't ready to lose!" Hector stomped away from the fire like a temperamental child. His fists were clenched tightly, as though he would take a swing at anything that was in his path.

Eliwood sighed hopelessly, "This is not good..."

"Sir?" Called a man from behind.

Eliwood turned around, his long cape flew up with a night breeze as he did so, "Oh, Matthew. Good evening." He spoke as though he were worn out from his conversation with Hector.

Matthew, an Ostian spy and servant to Hector, stood without slumping, focused without faltering and worked his thieving hands like a magic wand. He was overall one of the best thieves a man could hire and was as clever as a fox.

"Try working for him sometime." Matthew remarked sarcastically, referring to the fact that he was employed to Hector and how he had spent more time with him than Eliwood ever would, "Twenty-four hours a day, on every day of the week." He added with a slight cringe at the thought of the many hours of service he had completed for Hector.

Eliwood grinned weakly, "Hm..." He pondered for a moment.

If Hector was to take Lyn's challenge, there would probably be total chaos and Hector would lose whatever good reputation he still had left. If he were to be watched...

"Matthew, I...Have a bit of a task for you. Take it if you wish, but it is for Hector's sake." Eliwood began to explain with hope that Matthew wouldn't decline.

Before Eliwood could explain anything more to Matthew, he smiled, "I saw the whole thing. Don't worry, my lord, I'll keep an eye on him for you...If you do me...A bit of a favor..."